Pencil



y 26, 1970 YASUYUKI HASHIMOTO ETAL 3,514,211

PENCIL Filed March 12, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet l May 26, 1970 YASUYUKI HASHlMOTO ET AL 3,514,211

PENCIL Filed March 12, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 26, 1970 YASUYUKI HASHIMOTO ET AL 3,514,211

PENCIL Filed March 12, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet S5 United States Patent 3,514,211 PENCIL Yasuyuki Hashimoto, 8 Kanno-cho, Nishinomiya Hyogo Prefecture, and Osamu Torii, 1 Kaminoki-cho, Sangno, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan Filed Mar. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 712,491

Int. Cl. B43k 2.1/02 US. Cl. 401-53 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE There is disclosed a pencil of simplified construction comprising a tubular barrel of a length and external diameter suitable for grasping by the fingers for writing purposes, a lead receiving spindle within the barrel, fixed relative thereto and having a lead holding end disposed at least adjacent the end of the barrel for replaceably receiving a length of lead that would project beyond the end of the barrel and a tubular sleeve having a constructed tip portion slidably surrounding such length of lead and a major portion surrounding said spindle and slidably accommodated within the barrel so as to gradually retract therein as the lead is worn during writing, thus maintaining the tip of the lead exposed during writing.

Background of the invention The present invention relates broadly to the art of Writing implements.

More particularly this invention relates to a pencil.

Still more particularly this invention relates to a pencil which does not require any feeding of the lead to accommodate the wear of the lead during writing.

The prior art is replete with pencils which include various arrangements for feeding the lead forwardly as it is worn during writing.

Some of these include rotary components, while others include reciprocable components. However, regardless of the type of feed mechanism involved, all such mechanical feed pencils require frequent manipulation of the feed arrangement as the lead is worn or used during writing.

In addition, mechanical pencils that include a positive lead feed require numerous parts, some of which are of intricate construction thereby increasing production costs and likewise the susceptahility of wear and breakage of such parts.

Other pencils are known in which a guide or slide surrounding a length of lead can retract into a barrel as the lead wears during use. However, such known pencils of this type also include means for positively feeding the lead forwardly to compensate for its wear during use, thereby adding to construction costs and likewise being susceptible to wear and breakage.

Summary of the invention Therefore, this invention has for an object to provide a pencil so constructed as to be free of the above men tioned drawbacks.

More particularly this invention has for an object to provide a pencil which comprises a minimum of parts and yet does not require any positive lead feed.

A more particular object of this invention is to provide a pencil which comprises three basic components, namely a tubular barrel, a lead holding spindle centrally within the barrel and a lead end supporting sleeve slidably accommodated within the barrel.

A further object of this invention is to provide cooperating components between one of the barrel and spindle and the sleeve that permits latching of the sleeve in a projected position so as to protect the lead when the pencil is not in use.

Brief description of the drawings Further and more specific advantages and objects of this invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view illustrating an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view illustrating the major component parts of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and illustrating the component parts of a second embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the relationship between the lead receiving spindle and the lead supporting sleeve of the arrangement of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrating a modified pin and slot arrangement for guiding the lead supporting sleeve relative to the lead receiving spindle;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrating a modified tip construction for the lead supporting sleeve;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a modified slot arrangement embodied with the lead supporting sleeve; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 3 illustrating the slot engaging projection as carried by the barrel of the pencil.

Detailed description of the drawings The fundamental embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in which 1 denotes an outer sleeve or tubular barrel that can be constructed of metal, wood, bamboo, ebonite, synthetic resins or like sleeve forming materials, either singly or in combination. The barrel 1 has a length and external diameter or a thickness suitable for being grasped and held by the users fingers during writing. The tubular barrel can be a one piece barrel or formed of two or more tubular lengths connected together by means known in the art, such as by screw threads, splicing collars and the like.

Centrally arranged within and fixed against axial movement in the barrel 1 is a lead receiving or holding spindle 3 at the tip of which is a hole or socket So for receiving and holding a length of lead 4. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the lead holding end or tip of the spindle 3 is so disposed relative to the adjacent end of the barrel, that the length of lead protrudes well beyond the end of the barrel. Slidably accommodated within the barrel 1 and around the spindle 3, is a lead supporting sleeve or slider 5. This sleeve 5 is so designed as to permit the spindle 3 to enter therein. The sleeve 5 is tapered or made conical at its tip to provide a lead embracing or supporting tip 5a through which the point or writing end of the length of lead will be exposed.

At the inner or rear end of the sleeve 5 is mounted a band or segments 7 of a material having a high coeificient of friction such as rubber, a synthetic resin, etc., which engages the interior of the barrel and prevents the sleeve 5 from entering within the barrel 1 any farther than necessary or unduly protruding outwardly thereof or sliding out of the barrel at any time and yet the sleeve can be extracted for lead changing purposes. In other words, the sleeve 5 can retract within the barrel responsive to pressure when Writing, but it cannot just simply fall out of the barrel 1. When this pencil is in use, the sleeve 5 retracts automatically into the barrel 1 as the lead is worn or consumed during writing 3 and thus the writing tip is always exposed at the tip of sleeve to such a degree as is necessary for writing.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate another embodiment in which the lead receiving or holding spindle 3' is fixed within the barrel 1. The lead supporting sleeve 5' has a tapered end shaped to provide a lead grasping or embracing tip 5a and a slot arrangement 6 is cut into the sleeve 5 for cooperation with a tapered projection .8 projecting outwardly of the spindle 3'. The slot arrangement includes an entrance end 6d, a longitudinal portion 60, a slanting portion 6b and a longer longitudinal portion 6a. The edge of slanting portion 6b connects the two longitudinal slot portions. There is a transverse edge that leads to a restricted mouth portion 6e in which the projection 8 will not fit without causing flexing of the spindle 3' and this restriction or narrowing is followed by a latching or holding hole 6g which will accommodate the projection 8.

With this arrangement, if the sleeve 5 is advanced in the direction of arrow a and engaged with the lead receiving spindle 3 via the entrance end 6d of the slot straddling the projection 8, the latter engaging the short longitudinal portion 6c and the slanted portion 6b and finally engaging in the elongated longitudinal portion 6a, the sleeve 5' will automatically retract in response to pressure during writing and the tip of the length of lead Will be automatically exposed as the sleeve 5 keeps retracting as the length of lead is worn away.

Now, if it is desired to not use the pencil for a while, the sleeve 5' is manipulated relative to the barrel 1 and spindle 3'. This is such that the position of the projection 8 is again within the short longitudinal slot portion 60 and the sleeve 5' is twisted or turned in the direction of arrow b so that the tip of projection 8 first engages the restricted or narrowed slot portion 62 and causes a slight flexing of the spindle 3 so that the latter is momentarily eccentric within the sleeve 5 until the tip of the projection 8 passes into the latching hole or slot end 6g. With the sleeve 5' thus being latched relative to the barrel 1', the lead is protected by the extracted or protruding sleeve 5'.

The position of the projection 8 in relation to the longitudinal slot portion 6a, during use of the pencil depends upon the degree to which the Writing end of the lead shows itself at the tip S'a of the sleeve. The sleeve 5 cannot be drawn out of the barrel by a straight line pull since the projection 8 will engage one end of the transverse portion 6e. Thus the sleeve 5' has to be turned until the projection is aligned with the short longitudinal slot portion 60 and the entrance end 6d to permit removal of the sleeve so as to replace the worn length of lead with a new length.

It is believed clear that when the sleeve 5' has retracted as far into the barrel as permitted by the proiect on and slot arrangement, there will still be a short piece of lead in the lead accommodating hole or bore in the end of spindle 3 after removing the sleeve 5. This piece of lead is extracted, a new length inserted, following which the sleeve 5 is again slid within the barrel and the pencil is ready for use again.

FIG. 4 also illustrates that the lead receiving hole or bore is provided with cut away grooves 3b that communicate with the lead gripping hole so as to facilitate removal of residual lead by inserting a needle or other fine pointed instrument into the cut away grooves.

If the tip of the lead receiving spindle 3' is made to resemble the roundness of the inner tapered surface of the front end of sleeve 5, the lead receiving tip of the spindle can get closer to the tip end of sleeve 5 and thus the unused portion of the lead will be shorter, re sulting in more economical use of the lead.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modified form of slot arrangement .16 for the sleeve. In this arrangement the sleeve 15 is engaged with the lead receiving spindle 13 in the direction of arrow 0 so that the projection 18 passes through slot entrance end 16d and into the short longitudinal slot portion 16c. Then the sleeve is twisted in the direction of arrow b and the projection 18 passes through transverse connecting slot portion 16b to align with the longer longitudinal slot 16a. The position of the projection 18 along longitudinal slot portion 16a depends upon the degree to which the tip of the lead is exposed at the lead supporting tip end 15a of the sleeve 15. The sleeve cannot just simply slide out of the barrel 1 as the transverse connecting slot portion 16b prevents this.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modified tip portion for the sleeve and spindle arrangement of FIG. 4. Thus the tip portion 5'a of sleeve 5 is partly cut away like a pen point as shown at 25a, whereby the contact angle between the pencil and paper can be varied as desired by the user.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified slot arrangement for the sleeve. Thus, the sleeve is provided with a longitudinal slot portion 106 which is rounded or gourd shaped at its tip portion 106k. An entrance slot portion communicates with a transverse guiding slot portion 106c which communicates with the longitudinal portion 106k. Another transverse slot portion 106e extends from the upper end of the longitudinal slot and communicates with a latching or fixing aperture 106g. The short transverse slot portion 106e has less width than the hole portion so that the tip of the projection 8 or 18 has to be slightly forced therethrough until it enters the hole 106g. In this arrangement when the sleeve 105 is removed, a length of lead is inserted in the lead accommodating aperture or bore at the front end of the lead receiving spindle. Thereafter, the sleeve 105 is manipulated so that the projection such as 8 or 18 on the spindle enters the entrance end of the slot arrangement until the transverse slot 1060 is engaged by the projection. Then the sleeve 105 is turned until the projection enters slot portion 106, moved axially to abut the pin or projection against the wall of slot portion 106e, and again turned to ride the projection into the latching hole 106g. The projection 8 or 18 stays in its latching position when the pencil is not in use. When it is desired to use the pencil, the sleeve 105 is turned until the projection is in alignment with the longitudinal slot portion 106.

It is to be clear that the projection or pin that cooperates with the various slot arrangements in the sleeve can be in the form of a pin that passes through the barrel such as at 28 in FIG. 8 which illustrates a portion of the arrangement of FIG. 3 and shows such projection as engaged in the latching hole 6g in the slot arrangement of FIG. 4.

It is therefore believed that the objects and advantages set forth at the outset to this specification have been successfully achieved. Accordingly,

What is claimed is:

1. A pencil comprising a tubular barrel having an external diameter and length as to be suitable for holding in the fingers for writing purposes, a spindle means fixed within said barrel and having an outer end portion at least adjacent the outer end of said barrel, said spindle means being spaced from the interior of said barrel, socket means at the outer end of said spindle means for replaceably receiving a length of lead, a sleeve having a tip portion adapted to surround said lead and a major portion slidably accommodated within the space between said spindle and the interior of said tubular barrel, said sleeve having a length in excess of that of the length of lead so as to retract Within said tubular barrel relative to said spindle as the lead is worn during use.

2. A pencil as claimed in claim 1 and means possessing a high coefiicient of friction interposed between one of said barrel and spindle means and said sleeve.

3. A pencil as claimed in claim 1 and a projection extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of said tubular barrel and carried by one of said tubular barrel and spindle means at a location inwardly of the end of said tubular barrel and said sleeve having a slot means therein including a portion extending longitudinally of the axis of said sleeve, a latching portion and a portion of restricted width communicating between said latching portion and said longitudinally extending portion whereby manipulation of said sleeve relative to said tubular barrel can selectively engage said projection within said longitudinally extending slot portion to permit retraction of said sleeve Within said barrel during writing or engagement of said projection Within said latching portion to hold said sleeve in an extended lead protecting position.

4. A pencil as claimed in claim 3 and said projection being carried by said spindle means.

5. A pencil as claimed in claim 4 and said latching portion of said slot means being circumferentially displaced relative to said longitudinally extending portion of said slot means.

6. A pencil as claimed in claim 1 and said socket means at the outer end of said spindle means including a lead accommodating bore and a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves in said spindle communicating with said bore whereby residual lead can be removed from said socket means with the aid of a fine pointed instrument inserted in one of said grooves.

7. A pencil comprising a tubular barrel of a length and external dimensions suitable for grasping by the fingers for writing purposes, said tubular barrel having an open end, a spindle means fixed within said tubular barrel, spaced from the interior thereof and having a lead accommodating socket adapted to receive a length of lead, said socket being so located relative to said open end of said tubular barrel that such a length of lead projects beyond said open end such a distance as to provide a substantial lead length for use in writing, a lead supporting sleeve surrounding said spindle means, axially slidably accommodated in the space between said spindle means and the interior of said tubular barrel, said sleeve having a reduced outer end for surrounding and supporting the outer end of such a length of lead during writing, and means cooperably related between one of said tubular barrel and spindle means and said sleeve for permitting axial retracting movement of said sleeve within said tubular barrel responsive to pressure exerted on said sleeve during writing so as to maintain the writing end of said length of lead exposed as the lead is worn away during writing, for permitting complete removal of said sleeve from said barrel for replacing a length of lead, and for preventing said sleeve from disassociating itself from said barrel when said pencil is not in use.

8. A pencil as claimed in claim 7 and said last mentioned means comprising a material possessing a high coefiicient of friction carried by said sleeve for engaging the interior of said barrel.

9. A pencil as claimed in claim 7 and said last mentioned means comprising a cooperating pin and slot arrangement, said pin being carried by one of said tubular barrel and spindle means and said sleeve means having said slot arrangement therein for accommodating said pin means. i

10. A pencil as claimed in claim 9 and said pin means being carried by said spindle means.

11. A pencil as claimed in claim 10 and said slot arrangement including a slot portion extending longitudinally of the axis of said sleeve, a latching portion, and a portion of restricted width communicating between said latching portion and said longitudinally extending portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,729,791 10/1929 Morris 40l--53 1,729,814 10/1929 Becker 40154 1,737,862 12/1929 Morris 4Ol-54 X 1,745,658 2/1930 Becker 40153 2,026,815 1/1936 Barker 40l53 2,109,604 3/1938 Van Norsdall 40l-53 LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner 

